Mike Grant, the son of a Montreal blacksmith, was just eleven years old when he won three speed skating titles in the under-12, under-14, and under-16 age groups. He took his skating prowess to the hockey rink and was to become known as one of the original rushing defencemen in the sport. In addition to hockey and skating successes, Grant played amateur lacrosse in his native Montreal. His father's trade allowed him to associate with horseracing in both Montreal and Ottawa and later in life he was a familiar figure at the track as a paddock judge for more than 40 years.

Grant was a member of the junior champion Crystal Junior Hockey Club in 1890-91 and went on to win Intermediate championships with the Crystal Intermediates in the 1891-92 and 1892-93 seasons. It was as a member and captain of the Montreal Victorias that gained him the greatest fame as the Vics won the Stanley Cup on five occasions in the years preceding the turn of the 20th century.

Grant retired after the 1901-02 season but returned to the game as a referee in the March 1905 Stanley Cup challenge between Rat Portage and Ottawa, wearing a derby hat during one of the games. He was one of Canada's first ambassadors of hockey to the United States, demonstrating and organizing exhibition games south of the 49th parallel. It was said of Grant that he "was a durable competitor and a wonderful all-around hockeyist."